Water switch

ABSTRACT

A water switch of a water-bearing appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, including at least one water supply path, several water discharge paths and an adjustable water distribution element, the water distribution element having at least one passage opening and being rotatable around an axis from a first angular position to a second angular position, in the first angular position the at least one passage opening connecting the at least one water supply path to a first water discharge path, and in the second angular position the at least one passage opening connecting the at least one water supply path to a second water discharge path, is characterized in that a guiding mechanism is provided for guiding an axial movement along the axis of the water distribution element when the water distribution element rotates from the first angular position to the second angular position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to European PatentApplication No. 11004954 filed on Jun. 17, 2011 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Appl. No. 61/501,991 filed on Jun. 28, 2011, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a water switch of awater-bearing appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, includingat least one water supply path, several water discharge paths and anadjustable water distribution element, the water distribution elementhaving at least one passage opening and being rotatable around an axisfrom a first angular position to a second angular position, in the firstangular position the at least one passage opening connecting the atleast one water supply path to a first water discharge path, and in thesecond angular position the at least one passage opening connecting theat least one water supply path to a second water discharge path.

2. Description of the Related Art

Water switches, also called fluid switches or water diverters, are usedin water-bearing appliances, in particular domestic water-bearingappliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, to control flows ofliquid in the water-bearing appliance. When used in washing machineswater switches serve to dispense washing or rinsing water for example toa first or second detergent compartment of two detergent compartments.When used in dishwashers water switches serve to dispense washing water,also referred to as washing liquor, for example alternately to a sprayarm for an upper rack or to a spray arm for a lower rack of therespective dishwasher or simultaneously to both spray arms.

From DE-A-1610146 a water switch is known to include a rotatable controlslider which is provided in a cylindrical housing, connecting a supplychannel to one of a number of discharge channels by means of a swiveltube. The swivel tube has a rotating pin disposed in a socket of thesupply channel in the likeness of a ball and socket joint. A sealingelement in the likeness of a hollow cylinder is secured to the mouth ofthe swivel tube opposite the discharge channels and slides in acylindrical guide running concentrically to the outer surface of thehousing.

Another water switch known from DE-A-10133130 includes a rotating sliderdisposed in a pressure chamber of a circulating pump before branchingpressure connections. The water switch blocks and releases the pressureconnections for washing liquid. A gear drive for the rotating slider isarranged outside and inside the pressure chamber. The rotating slider inquestion is formed by a cylindrical component, in the cylindrical wallof which one or more apertures are located between one and a number ofmovable closing elements with a valve function. The apertures and theclosing elements are configured in their relative position to thepressure connections, which form the water supply and/or water dischargeconnections, such that depending on the rotation of the rotating slider,the pressure connections opposite its cylinder wall are released orblocked in a sealing manner.

Accordingly, a need exists for a water switch of a water-bearingappliance, for blocking or releasing at least one water supply path toone of several water discharge paths, the water switch being costefficient in production, being easy to switch, and providing aneffective water flow control for the water-bearing appliance associatedtherewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention a water switch of awater-bearing appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, isprovided, the water switch including at least one water supply path,several water discharge paths and an adjustable water distributionelement, the water distribution element having at least one passageopening and being rotatable around an axis from a first angular positionto a second angular position, in the first angular position the at leastone passage opening connecting the at least one water supply path to afirst water discharge path, and in the second angular position the atleast one passage opening connecting the at least one water supply pathto a second water discharge path. Further, a guiding mechanism isprovided for guiding an axial movement along the axis of the waterdistribution element when the water distribution element rotates fromthe first angular position to the second angular position. The axialmovement of the water distribution element, in particular, takes placewhile the water switch is unpressurized. In order to prevent the waterdistribution element from moving back after its rotation from oneangular position to the next angular position, in particular, areverse-look is provided. The water distribution element may serve toconnect one or several water supply paths to one or several differentwater discharge paths and/or to interconnect several water dischargepaths.

Preferably the guiding mechanism includes at least one cylindricalportion being guided in a respective tubular portion surrounding the atleast one cylindrical portion, and/or wherein further, in particular,the at least one cylindrical portion is connected to an armature of anassociated magnetic coil.

In a preferred embodiment, the water distribution element is disk shapedand extends perpendicular to the axis, and/or wherein further, inparticular, the cylindrical portion and/or the armature extend along theaxis.

In another preferred embodiment, the guiding mechanism includes at leastone first ramp portion sliding along a respective second ramp portionduring the axial movement of the water distribution element, the pair ofa first ramp portion and a respective second ramp portion therebygenerating a torque for rotating the water distribution element from thefirst angular position in the direction to the second angular position.

Further preferred, several pairs of a first ramp portion and arespective second ramp portion, in particular, 8 pairs of a first rampportion and a respective second ramp portion, are circumferentiallydistributed, and in particular, evenly circumferentially distributed,around a cylindrical portion of the guiding mechanism.

In a further preferred embodiment, the number of pairs of a first rampportion and a respective second ramp portion equals the number of waterdischarge paths.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention the number ofpairs of a first ramp portion and a respective second ramp portion islarger than the number of water discharge paths, whereby at least at oneangular position of the water distribution element the respective waterdischarge is closed.

In accordance with yet another preferred aspect of the invention atleast one first pair of a first ramp portion and a respective secondramp portion and at least one second pair of a first ramp portion and arespective second ramp portion are located on two opposite faces of thewater distribution element. Each of the two pairs of a first rampportion and a respective second ramp portion generates a part of thenecessary torque for moving the water distribution element along itstravel from the first angular position to the second angular position.

In accordance with still another preferred aspect of the invention theat least one first pair of a first ramp portion and a respective secondramp portion at one face of the water distribution element generatesabout one half of the rotary movement of the water distributing element,and the at least one second pair of a first ramp portion and arespective second ramp portion at the opposite face of the waterdistribution element generates about the second half of the rotarymovement of the water distributing element.

Finally, in a further preferred embodiment of the solution according tothe invention, the guiding mechanism includes a spring, in particular ahelical spring, biasing the water distribution element in the directionof the several water discharge paths, and/or wherein further, inparticular, the spring surrounds a cylindrical portion of the guidingmechanism.

The water switch apparatus according to the invention can be switchedwith very low expenditure of energy, because the water distributionelement associated therewith does not only rotate from a first angularposition to at least one second angular position but also does an axialmovement during this rotational movement. With this axial movement thewater distribution element can be lifted off a sealing element locatedat the passage opening of the water distribution element.

The sealing element helps providing a water tight passageway through thewater switch. Further, the sealing element is suitable for sealing awater passage opening which extends through a flat rotating disk inrespect to water discharge lines opposite said flat rotating disk. Thiswater switch according to the invention is even suitable for sealingopenings provided in a cylinder wall.

According to another advantage with this solution, the water switch doesnot produce an unwanted high pressure loss in the water flow to bedistributed in each instance due to only very low deflection within thewater distribution element and the flow paths connected therewith.

Finally, on one hand, the water switch provides the possibility toconnect a very large number of water discharge paths. On the other hand,a water tight seal is easily provided against all of the water dischargepaths not being connected to the water supply path.

Hereinafter an embodiment of the solution according to the invention isdescribed referring to the schematic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective explosion view of an embodiment of a waterswitch according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water switch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the sectional view indicated in FIG. 2 showing a position ofthe respective water distribution member during distributing water to awater discharge path.

FIG. 4 is the sectional view indicated in Fig. showing a position of therespective water distribution element during the movement of switchingfrom one water discharge path to another water discharge path.

FIG. 5 is the sectional view indicated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the respective lower housing portion of thewater switch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of the lower housing portion as shownin FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is the sectional view indicated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the respective upper housing portion of thewater switch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective bottom view of the upper housing portion asshown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a first perspective view of the respective water distributionelement of the water switch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a second respective view of the water distribution element asshown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is the sectional view indicated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the water distribution element as shown in FIG.11 to 13.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the water distribution element as shown inFIG. 11 to 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A water switch 10 for a water-bearing appliance, in particular adomestic appliance, includes the main structural members of a magneticcoil 12, an upper housing portion 14, a spring 16, a water distributionelement 18 and a lower housing portion 20. The magnetic coil 12 isfitted on top of the upper housing portion 14, while the spring 16 andthe water distribution element 18 are mounted in the hollow spaceprovided by the upper housing portion 14 and the lower housing portion20. The spring 16 is formed as a helical spring, is located between theupper housing portion 14 and the water distribution element 18 andthereby biases the water distribution element 18 against the lowerhousing portion 20.

The magnetic coil 12 has a first connector pin 22 and a second connectorpin 24 both protruding in a lateral direction at the upper rim of themagnetic coil 12. The first and second connector pins 22 and 24 are forconnecting an electrical plug (not shown) and for supplying current tothe magnetic coil 12. The current supplied flows through a wire-woundcoil (not shown) which is located within a cylindrical hollow body 26 ofthe magnetic coil 12. The magnetic coil 12 is a standardized structuralelement which is produced in large scale manufacture. Thus, the magneticcoil 12 can be produced very cost-effective.

The upper housing portion 14, which is shown in detail in FIG. 8 to 10,is made of plastic or another synthetic material by an injection moldingprocess. It has the shape of a round, in particular circular disc fromwhich a water supply path 28 in the form of a supply connection tube isprojecting radially at the outer range thereof. The water supply path 28leads to an approximately circular channel 30 which is located at theinner side of this disc-shaped housing shell of the upper housingportion 14. At the center of this disc shape a cylindrical housingportion 32 protrudes to the outside along a central axis of the disc(not figured). The cylindrical housing portion 32 forms a tubularportion for pinning up the cylindrical hollow body 26 thereon and foraccommodating a portion of the water distribution element 18 therein, aswill be explained in further detail hereinafter.

Parallel with the cylindrical housing portion 32 a snap-in pin 34protrudes from the disk. The snap-in pin 34 is adapted to embrace thecylindrical hollow body 26 in order to hold the magnetic coil 12 on thecylindrical housing portion 32.

Two notches 36 project radially at one of two diametrical positions ofthe outer range of the disk-shape housing shell. These notches 36 areprovided for a water-tight connection of the lower housing portion 20 tothe upper housing portion 14 as it is shown in FIG. 2.

Eight first ramp portions 38 and adjacent first recess portions 40 aresurrounding the cylindrical housing portion 32 at the inner center ofthe housing shell of the upper housing portion 14. Each ramp portion 40is made of a ramp surface 42 which is skewed relative to said axis. Theramp surface 42 is positioned in an angel relative to the axis of about40 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably 50 degrees. The ramp surface 42terminates at a ramp edge 44, which is formed by a smaller and steepercounter ramp 46. The ramp edge 44 is rather dull. The first recessportions 40 are limited by parallel sidewalls forming a type of slotinto which a second ramp portion facing the first ramp portion can beinserted, as will be explained later.

The water distribution element 18 is shown in detail in FIG. 11 to 15.It is made of plastic or synthetic materials, too. The waterdistribution element 18 is formed like a circular disc, which has eightwater distribution positions 48 on its disk-face. The water distributionpositions 48 are located with equal distances along a circle on theface. One of the water distribution positions 48 is open, including apassage opening 50 which permeates the disk. The seven remaining waterdistribution positions 48 are closed.

At each water distribution position 48 a sealing ring 52 is provided atthe lower side of the disk of the water distribution element 18. One ofthese sealing rings 52 is located at a margin 54 of the passage opening50. The other sealing rings 52 are fixed to the disk by means of pins 56protruding through respective openings in the disk.

A first cylindrical portion 58 protrudes at the central area of thedisk-shape and carries a rod-shaped armature 60 made from iron orferro-magnetic material. The armature 60 elongates the first cylindricalportion 58 along the axis. When mounting the water distribution element18 into the upper housing portion 14, the armature 60 dives into thecylindrical housing portion 32 and into the cylindrical hollow body 26of the magnetic coil 12.

Eight second ramp portions 62 and adjacent recess portions 64 aresurrounding the first cylindrical portion 58. These second ramp portions62 are also formed by ramp surfaces sloping relative to the axis with anangel of between 40 degrees and 60 degrees, preferably of 50 degrees, arespective ramp edge and an associated smaller counter ramp. The rampsurfaces of the second ramp portions 62 are positioned in a manner forsliding along the ramp surfaces 42 of the first ramp portions 38 whenthe water distribution element 18 moves in an axial direction, andfurther for diving into the respective first recess portions 40 afterthe ramp surfaces have left the phase of sliding contact.

Around these second ramp portions 62 eight through holes 66 are locatedin the disk of the water distribution element 18 serving as hydraulicflow compensation during movement of the water distribution element 18in axial direction.

Two latches 68 are located in a tangential manner at two diametricalpositions of an outer margin 70 of the disk-shape of the waterdistribution element 18. These latches 68 help to ensure that the waterdistribution element 18 can only rotate on one direction.

On the lower face of the disk-shape of the water distribution element 18a guiding pin 72 projects axially and forms a second cylindricalportion. The guiding pin 72 has longitudinal slots 74 on this lateralsurface which also leads into the first cylindrical portion 58 and intothe armature 60 providing further water compensation.

The second cylindrical portion formed by the guiding pin 72 issurrounded by eight first ramp portions 76 and adjacent first recessportions 78. These ramp portions 76 and recess portions 78 correspond tothose first ramp portions 38 and first recess portions 40 mentionedabove, but they are offset in the circumferential direction by nearlythe angular width of the first ramp portions 38.

The cupular lower housing portion 20 is depicted in further detail inFIG. 5 to 7. It is also made of plastic or another synthetic material byinjection molding and includes a sealing edge or sealing ring 80 at itsupper circular edge. Two notch catchers 82, each for clamping one of thenotches 36, project radially at two diametrical positions of the outersidewall of the lower housing portion 20.

The bottom of the lower housing portion 20 provides eight waterdischarge positions 84 located with equal distances along a circle onthe inner face of the bottom. One position 86 of these water dischargepositions 84 is closed; the remaining seven positions are open. Theyhave respective water discharge paths 88 in the form of a dischargeconnection tube connected therewith.

Further, at the inner surface of the sidewall of the cup-shaped orcupular lower housing portion 20 sixteen latch ramps 90 are formed.These latch ramps 90 are designed so that the latches 68 of the waterdistribution element 18 can slide along.

A guiding cylinder 92 accommodates the guiding pin 72 and projects inthe center of the bottom to the outside of the lower housing portion 20.At the center of the inside of the bottom eight second ramp portions 94and adjacent second recess portions 96 surround the opening leading intothe guiding cylinder 92.

During operation of the water switch 10, the magnetic coil 12 pulls thearmature 60 and the water distribution element 18 connected therewith inthe direction of the upper housing portion 14 and biases the spring 16.While moving axially, the first ramp portions 38 and the second rampportions 62 contact each other and start to work as a guiding mechanismby sliding along each other. The sliding process provides a torque whichstarts to rotate the water distribution element 18 from its startingfirst angular position to the direction of a next second angularposition. These positions are those of the water distribution positions48 mentioned above. The sliding of the ramp portions 38 and second rampportions 62 provide half of the travel from the first angular positionto the second angular position.

The second half of the travel is provided, when the magnetic coil 12stops pulling the armature 60 and the spring 16 pushes the waterdistribution element 18 back along the axis in its previous axialposition. While moving back axially, the first ramp potions 76 now comeinto contact with the second ramp portions 94 in order to slide alongeach other and in order to turn the water distribution element 18further along the second half of the travel.

At the end of the travel, the sealing rings 52 come into contact withrespective water discharge paths 88 again. While seven of the dischargepaths are closed by means of the water distribution element 18 in thismanner, one path through the passage opening 50 is open.

1. A water switch (10) of a water-bearing appliance, in particular adomestic appliance, including at least one water supply path (28),several water discharge paths (88) and an adjustable water distributionelement (18), the water distribution element (18) having at least onepassage opening (50) and being rotatable around an axis from a firstangular position to a second angular position, in the first angularposition the at least one passage opening (50) connecting the at leastone water supply path to a first water discharge path, and in the secondangular position the at least one passage opening (50) connecting the atleast one water supply path to a second water discharge path,characterized in a guiding mechanism (38, 62, 76, 94) for guiding anaxial movement along the axis of the water distribution element (18)when the water distribution element (18) rotates from the first angularposition to the second angular position.
 2. The water switch of claim 1,wherein the guiding mechanism includes at least one cylindrical portion(58) being guided in a respective tubular portion (32) which surroundsthe at least one cylindrical portion (58).
 3. The water switch of claim1, wherein the water distribution element (18) is disk shaped andextends perpendicular to the axis.
 4. The water switch of claim 1,wherein the at least one cylindrical portion (58) is connected to anarmature (60) of an associated magnetic coil (12).
 5. The water switchof claim 4, wherein further, in particular, the cylindrical portion (58)and/or the armature (60) extends along the axis.
 6. The water switch ofclaim 1, wherein the guiding mechanism includes at least one first ramp(38, 76) sliding along a respective second ramp (62, 94) during theaxial movement of the water distribution element (18), the first andsecond ramps (38, 62, 76, 94) thereby generating a torque for rotatingthe water distribution element (18) from the first angular position inthe direction to the second angular position.
 7. The water switch ofclaim 6, wherein plural pairs of first ramp and second ramps (38, 62,76, 94), are distributed circumferentially around a cylindrical portion(58) of the guiding mechanism.
 8. The water switch of claim 7, whereinthe number of pairs of a first and second ramps (38, 62, 76, 94) equalsthe number of water discharge paths (88).
 9. The water switch of claim7, wherein the number of pairs first and respective second ramps (38,62, 76, 94) is larger than the number of water discharge paths (88),whereby at least at one angular position of the water distributionelement (18) the respective water discharge is closed.
 10. The waterswitch of one of claim 6, wherein at least one first pair of first rampsand a respective second ramp (38, 62) and at least one second pair of afirst ramps and a respective second ramp (76, 94) are located on twoopposite faces of the water distribution element (18).
 11. The waterswitch of claim 10, wherein the at least one first pair of a first rampsand the respective second ramp (38, 62) at one face of the waterdistribution element (18) generates approximately one half of the rotarymovement of the water distributing element (18), and the at least onesecond pair of a first ramps and the respective second ramp (76, 94) atthe opposite face of the water distribution element (18) generatesapproximately the second half of the rotary movement of the waterdistributing element (18).
 12. The water switch of claim 1, wherein theguiding mechanism includes a spring (16) biasing the water distributionelement (18) in a direction of the several water discharge paths (88).13. The water switch of claims 12, wherein, the spring (16) surrounds acylindrical portion (58) of the guiding mechanism.